More than 80,000 Syrians in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- More than 80,000 Syrian refugees are now in Turkey, including more than 500 who are hospitalized, officials said Tuesday.

The Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, usually known by its Turkish acronym, AFAD, reported 122,874 Syrians have come to Turkey since the massive protests against President Bashar Assad began last year and 38,814 have returned to Syria, Anadolu News Agency reported. This leaves 83,260 refugees currently in Turkey.

Most are in four southern provinces, where they receive a wide variety of assistance, AFAD said. The 590 currently in hospitals includes 82 caregivers.